Chassis frame construction



y 1932- A. B. WERDEHOFF 1,857,341 I CHASSIS FRAME CONSTRUCTION FiledJan. 29, 1930 6 IN VEN TOR ALB??? 5. WERDEHOFE 4; 7 A TT ORNE Y YPatented July 12, 1932- V UNITED STATES PATENT orr es,f

hLBEnr B. wnnnnrrorr, o1" onron, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR r CHRYSLERconroaarrolv,

or nn'rnorr, MICHIGAN, a CORPORATION or DE AWARE I CHASSIS FRAMECONSTRUCTION" i Application filed January 29, 1930. Serial No. 424,355.

The main objects .of this invention are to prov de an improved" chass1sframe for vehicles; to provide improvedmeansm a i frame of this kind forresisting torsional distortion of one side of the frame relative to theother to provide a tubular member for reinforcing a 'frame throughwhichthe drive shaft of a vehicle may extend so as to prevent addition ofheight to the body supporting parts of the frame by the reinforcofcrossarms of substantially equal length between the reinforcing member andthe respectively opposite sides of the frame; to provide improvedtransverse. elements bep tween the sides ofa frame of this kind which ofthe chassis; and to provide a tubular backbone for a chassis frame forrelieving the body which is normally supported thereon from distortiondue to relative movement of the sides of the'frame. c

As illustrative embodiment of this, invention is shownin theaccompanying drawing, in. which Fig. 1 is a longitudinalcentralsectionof a vehicle chassis having a; frame which embodies myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4-1 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form of myinvention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of a'vehicle' frame embodying anotherform of my inventtion.

Fi 8 is a. section. taken online 8-8 of Fi in the form of my inventionshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a vehicle chassis compr sing wheels 1,front and rear axles 2 and 3, re-

spectively, an engine 4, a transmission 5 and a drive shaft 6 has aframe 7 wh1ch includes spaced side members 8 and 9. The side memwill notmaterially reduce the roadclearance bers 8 and 9 are formed of channelbars, the

channel sides of which are'located' on'the inside of the frame. Rigidlymounted on the front and rear ends of the sidemembers 8 and 9 are crossbars 10 and 11 respectively,

the cleats 12 and 13 are provided between the side members andintermediate the bars 10 and 11. The cleats 12 and 13. are rigidlysecured to the upper flanges 14 and 15 of the side members 8 and 9respectively. 1 L

. Extending transversely of the frame 7 substantiallyat the mid-portionthereof, area pair of struts 16 and 17 having asubstantiallysemi-cylindrical cross section as shown in Fig. 4. V The ends of thestruts have upright flanges 19'and 2O thereon which are riveted at 21'or secured by any suitable means to the side .members 8 and 9respectively;

Formed at the middle'portions of the struts 16 and 17 are 'bowedsections21 and 22 respectively, which have a substantially circular curvature. Areinforcing rib or stifiener 23 comprising a tubular member having acurvature which conforms with, the bowed portions-21 and 22*is rigidlysecured at its opposite ends to thebowed portions by rivets 24c. Crossbars 25 and 26 are secured at their opposite ends to the, lower flanges27 and 28 of the side members 8 and 9'respectively, by rivets 29 andar-e located directly below the struts 16 and 17. These cross bars arerigidly attached at their middle portions to the tubular stiffener 2.3by-rivets 30. a The drive shaft '6 extends axially through the tubularstiffener 23.

p In the form of my invention shown in Figs, 5 and 6, the side members 8and 9 are rigidly connected together by upper and lowe rpairs ofangle,bars31 and 32. {The vertical sides 33 and 34 of the angle bars areformed at 35 and 36 to conform to the curva5 ture. of. a tubularstiffener 23' which is secured to-the sides of the bars by rivets 36.

j The sides ofeach angle bararerigidly secured by rivets or othersuitable means-to the webs and flanges .of the side members 8' and9.Mounted between the' vertical sides 33 and 3d of the angle bars 31. and32 respectively, are a pair of gusset plates 37. In Figs. 7 and 8, thetubular stiffener 23.1

is rigidly connected with the side members 8.1 and 9.1 by a tubularcross member or housing 38 which extends between the .side members ofthe frame. With this form. of my invention, a pair of tubular housings38 is employed in place of the struts and 26 of Figs. 1,2, 3 and 4. i

Each housing 38 comprises an upper and lower substantiallysemiscylindrical section-' 39 and 40 having adjacent flanges 4: 1 and 42on their side edges which are secured together by rivets 43. The upperand lower sections 39 and 40 are provided at their mid-portions withoppositely bowed sections 4A and 45 having curvatures which conformwiththe cur-S vature of the tubular stiffener, 23.1. The stiffenerextends through the'space between these bowed portions and is rigidlysecured to the latter portions by rivets 45. Formed on theextremities ofthe sections 39 andiO are flanges 4:6 and 47 which are secured by rivets48 to the opposite flanges of the side members 8.1 and 9.1. 7

With each form of'my invention, it is intended that the drive shafts ofthe chassis extend through the tubular stiffener so as to reinforce thechassis frame without'adding to secured thereto. 7

the height of the body supporting portions thereof. The stiflener doesnot extend below the crank case'of the engine 4 and therefore doels notreduce the road clearance'of the vehic e.

When forces of unequal intensity are applied on the respectivelyopposite sides or ends of the frame, the stiffener torsionally resistsdistortion of one side relativeto the other and relieves the body of thevehicle which'is supported on the frame from resistmg frequent twlst ngmovements.

elements extending between said sidemembers, substantially verticallyaligned brace 1 intermediateportion secured to said rib on thesidethereof opposite from the cylindrical segment of said brace.

A frame comprising spaced side mem bers;spaced struts extending betweensaid side members,1each having an-arcuate transverse cross section andincluding anintermediate curved portion having an axis of curvaturesubstantially normal to the lengths of said struts, a tubularreinforcement hav ing a curvature substantially the same as theintermediatecurved portion of saidstruts and secured thereto, and across member secured at itsiends to said side members and at itsintermediate portion to said reinforcement. e I.

4. Aframe includin'g'spac'ed longitudinal side members, a pair oflongitudinally spaced transverse. members extending between said sidemember's, each'having an arcuate cross section and having registeringcylindrical segments at their intermediate portions, said cylindricalsegments having a commonaxis extending lengthwise of said frame, atubuiar rib having. its ends seated in and secured to the cylindricalsegments of said braces,

and a pair of transverse -members fixed at their ends to the sidemembers of said frame,

each in substantiallyvertical alignment with l one of said bracesrespectively and secured tosaid rib onthe opposite side thereof fromsaid cylindrical segments. 8 I I 5. A frame-including spaced sidemembers, a pairof. ubstantially cylindrical transverse member's having 1registering longitudinal edge flanges, registeringbowedsections at theintermediate -portions of said members forming cylin'dricalipassagetherethrough normal to the length of sald members, means rigidlysecuring said flanges together on.re-

spectively opposite sidesofsaidbowed sections, a tubular reinforcingelement extending "through; said passage and rigidly secured totremities of said transvers'e'members rigid-"- ly-attached to saidsidemembers.

'ALBERT. B- WERDEHO'FF.

bers eachhaving aniarcuate' cross section, registering oppos tely bowedportions in said 7;

elements, anda stiffener having a curvature conforming with-said bowedportions rigidly 2. A frame including spacedside members, a braceextending between said s de members g having an arcuate sectionandhaving a trans versely extending cylindrical segment intermediate itsends,',a'tubular rib havinga-curved 5 I portion .seated inland'conforming in shape

